Safety device for stuffing apparatus



1954 c. o. SCHMIDT, J'R ,668

SAFETY DEVICE FOR STUFFING APPARATUS Filed March a, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,I'IIM INVENTOR. 62 CARL OSCAR SCHMIDT, JR. FIG. 2 BY Feb. 9, 1954 c Q sc JR 2,668,321

SAFETY DEVICE FOR STUFFING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL OSCAR SOHMIDT, JR

BY I

ATTORNE Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE 2,668,321 SAFETY Diivroi: FOR STUFFING APPARATUS Carl Oscar Schmidt, J12, Cincinnati, Ohio, as-" signer to The Cincinnati Butchers" Suppl? Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Application March 8, 1951, Serial No. 214,521

3 Claims. J

This invention relates to fluid 'pr'essuie-o'pe'r ated stufling apparatus and more particularly to a safety attachment for such apparatus.

Ah object of the invention is to provide a safety device for fluid=prssure=operated stuffing apparatus of the ty'peiitiliaed in the ineat packing indi'istiy for filling sausage casings and the like With meat proa'u'ets. 'whi'ch device is constructed the arranged iii such a hiar iher as to Df'cliide its being rehdere'd neffective y an op rator s siring to operate the device without the benefit 6f safety means.

Another object of the ihventioh to provide a safety attachmeht for ah air stuher of the type which includes a coiii cairfiifig yoke ruicrumed to an open topp'ed cylinder; which includes means for securely thoughreieasabiy cckihg the yoke against relative motion with the cylinder when it has been swung into position for disposing the cover in closed positioh, that is,- iii aiiial alignment with the i'ivlilidi'i", 'thrhy iiiositil ily look mg the yoke in a closd c'oiii" position A further object of the invention is to provide a safety attachment which is c'onstri-icted and ar ranged iii such a manner as to be easily afiiiied to existing air stufiers with a inimifiiifn of effort and expense.

Still a further object of the invention is to are Vide a, safety attachment for air starters which includes a pressure relief valve connected through a manually operable valve for isolation from or in open commuhication with the interior of the cylinder of the air stuifer whereby the maximum pressure developed within the cylin der will during these periods of time vvhei 'th'e relief valve is in open communication therewith, be limited to a predetermined value of such mag nitude as to preclude rapid movement or acceleration of the piston while the cover is in open position. In this connection it will be noted that many serious injuries have occurred in the meat processing industry when the opera-tors of air staffers have applied fulhline pressure to a temporaril stuck piston while the cover of the st ifier is open, with the result that the piston when loosened from its previously stuck coridi tion is rapidly propelled or projected upwardly with such speed and force as to be bodily discharged from the open end or the cyliiidei', dam aging any and all objects in its path.

Another object or the invention is th crevice a simple yet highly effective sarety attachment fabricated from standard parts which whhcoihbined in the manner disclosed will provide a high 1y effective, foolproof safety attachment will preclude the accidental or unmtehti ha application of full-line ressure to the cylinder auring those periods of time when the cover fniiibi is in other than fullyclo'sed position. i

These and other objects are attained y the means described hereihahd as disclosed iiith accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of air stuiier ihbodying the safety attachment of the pis'efit invention. 1 v I Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view takeh oh lih 2 -2 of Fig. 1. pp p k a Fig. 3 is a partial sectional View of th valve of Fig. 1. g V I Fig. 4 is a partial elevational View of ah ail stufier disclosing a modification of the present invention. x i x Fig. 5 is a view oh line 5'"5 of Fig. 4. a

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through valve 206 of Figs. 4 and 5. H v I Figs. '7 and 8 are views similar to' Fig. 6 wheiin the valve is disposed in different o erative positions. X N

With reference now to Fig. 1, the humeral l0 denotes generally a conventional air=stuiier 63d inder open at its upper end and hatihg a closed bottom. The numeral [2 denotes a filstoii mounted for reciprocable axial movement within the cylinder in response to the-application of fluid pressure to the bottom of the cylihder beneath piston I2 via pipe I4; v Y

Access to the interior of cylinder IQ is controlled by means of a cover I6 secured to anel carried by yoke l8 fulcrumed as at boss 20 to pivot bolt 22 projectiiig iipwardly from boss 24 of cylinder I0. The'yoke is thushofizdfit'ally swingable about or with reference to the iipi'ii open portion of the cylinder tor dispqsih fiovr H5 in open or closed relatiohship relative to the cylinder, it being noted that w en the aver been disposed in a closed position it will be iii axial alignment with cylinder Hi. I w 7 That end of yoke l8 r mote from toss in ihay terminate in a fhl hbr' 26 diii'liisidfied to 1661i? ingly engage a complementary portion 28 secured to and carried by the upper portion of the cylinder. A suitable locking lever 30 may be provided for securely though releasably fastening the yoke in the cover-closing position illustrated in Fig. 1.

Vertical movement may be imparted to cover I6 by means of a clamping screw 32 the upper end of which terminates in a hand wheel 34. Relative rotation of cover I6 with yoke I8 may be efiectively precluded by means of an upwardly extending bracket 36 secured to and carried by cover I6 and provided with a pair of laterally spaced elements dimensioned to spanningly engage opposite sides of the yoke.

The contents of cylinder II) are normally adapted to be extruded through one or more nozzles 40 incident to elevation of piston I2. The flow of material through nozzles 40 may be controlled by means of suitable cocks 42 in communication with the upper portion of the cylinder via conduits 44.

If desired, the pressure media utilized to actuate the piston may be air suitably introduced to control valve 50 which may be of the so-called four-way type having inlet port 52 and discharge ports 54, 56 and 58. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the interior of valve 50 is provided with a rotatable plug 60 movable by means of handle 62 to various relationships with respect to the inlet and outlet ports. When the handle is in the position illustrated in solid outline in Fig. 1, plug 60 will be located whereby to connect inlet port 52 with outlet port 58, said port being connected by pipe I58 to fitting 64 to which pipe I4 is connected, for introducing pressure media beneath piston I2 for forcing it upwardly to expel the contents of cylinder I through the various nozzles 40.

When the valve actuating lever 62 has been shifted to the position indicated in dotted outline of Fig. I, plug 60 will interconnect inlet port 52 with outlet port 54 which is connected through piping I54 to the inlet end of a venturi denoted generally by the numeral 66.

Port 58 will be simultaneously connected to discharge port 56 thereby exhausting the pressure media beneath the piston through pipe I56, T-fitting 60, pipe 10, check valve I2, T-fitting I4 into exhaust line I6 to the bottom of which a conventional muffler I8 is operatively secured.

.The rate at which the pressure media is exhausted from beneath piston I2 will be acceleratedby the suction induced in chamber 80 of the venturi, which chamber is in open communication with one leg of T-fitting 68 via pipe 82.

At this point it will be noted that the present invention is neither directed to nor concerned with the specific structural details of the air stuifer hereinabove described, said stuffer comprising a well-known commercially available device widely used in the meat-packing industry.

My safety attachment comprises a pressure relief valve I00 connected through suitable by-pass piping to fitting 64 as at I04. A valve I02 is interposed between relief valve I00 and fitting 65 for selectively isolating valve I00 from or connecting it in open communication with the bypass and interior of cylinder I0 below piston I2 via pipe I4.

Valve I02 includes a handle I06 swingable between the fully elevated position indicated in solid outline in which position the pressure relief means I00 is in open communication with the interior of the cylinder, or to the fully lowered position indicated in broken outline i0 3 is lating 4 the pressure relief means I 00 from the interior of the cylinder.

A lever I08 is pivotally connected as at I I0 relative to cylinder I0, wherein one end of the lever is secured relative to handle I06 by link I I2.

The other end of lever I08 is pivotally secured as at I I6 to a bolt I I4 vertically reciprocable within an elongated sleeve H8 suitably fastened to the cylinder as at I20 and I22.

A collar denoted generally by the numeral I24 is fixedly secured to and carried by boss 20 from which it extends in a substantially horizontal plane for providing an overhanging edge or surface I26. Collar I24 is provided with a bolt receptive aperture or opening I26 which is so constructed and arranged as to be disposed in axial alignment with bolt II4 only when the yoke has been disclosed in the cover-closing position illustrated in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be noted that upward axial movement of bolt H4 will be resisted by the lower surface I26 of. collar I24 during those periods of time when the yoke has been turned about pivot bolt 22 for shifting the collar opening or aperture I28 out of axial alignment with bolt II4 for thereby automatically and positively preventing lowering of valve handle I05 for disconnecting or isolating the pressure relief means I00 from interior of cylinder Hi.

It will be further noted that when the upper end of bolt I I4 has been shifted upwardly through the collar opening or aperture I28 for permitting lowering of valve handle I06 to the position indicated in dotted outline, the upper end of bolt H4 will effectively and positively preclude relative motion between the yoke and cylinder by reason of its locking engagement with collar I24.

Highly satisfactory results have been obtained when pressure relief means I00 is of the type adapted to automatically release pressure in excess of five pounds per square inch. It has been observed that such an amount of pressure is quite adequate for normally elevating piston I2 during those periods of time when the yoke and cover It have been swung to a fully open position, and for enabling an operator to safely actuate piston I2 with the top of the stufier removed.

It is the rule rather than the exception for the piston I2 of an air stufier to become stuck relative to the inner side walls of cylinder I 0, particularly after long periods of non-use. Many disastrous accidents have occurred in the past when full-line pressure has been applied to a stufier cylinder during those periods of time when the cover was open for enabling the operator to free or loosen a temporarily stuck piston from the side walls of the cylinder.

With reference now to Figs. 4-8, it will be noted that axial motion is imparted to bolt I I4 by means of cam 200 secured to and carried by an extension or stem 202 of rotatable plug 204 of valve 206 which includes a handle 208. The plane of rotation of the cam is in substantial vertical alignment with bolt I I4, it being noted that the throw of the cam is sufiicient to dispose the bolt in the lowered, fully retracted, non-interfering position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, or to a raised, 'fully elevated, collar-engaging position for locking the yoke against relative movement with the cylinder.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention valve 206 may be a three-way valve comprising an inlet port 2 I0, and outlet ports 2I2 and 2I4. The inlet port may be suitably connected in open communication with the interior of cylinder l0 via pipe 2I6, fitting 64 and pipe [4. M

When handle 208 has been positioned as illustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, the interior of the relief valve I00 will be in direct open communication with the interior of the cylinder, port 2l 2 being closed as illustrated in Fig. '6. When thus located, a earn 200 will be positioned whereby bolt Hiis retracted; thereby enabling yoke l! to be swingabte iii a hdrlzontal plane' relative to cylinder [0.

, whe hand-1e s is in the position illustrated Fig. '7, cam 200 will be positioned whereby to to elevate bolt H4 into collar opening I28, thereby locking the yoke in closed position while simultaneously isolating the relief valve from the interior of the cylinder. It will be noted that handle 208 cannot be actuated to the position of Fig. 7 15 until and unless the yoke has been disposed in position for locating cover IS in closed position in axial alignment with the open top of the cylinder, since only then will aperture I28 of collar I24 be disposed in axial alignment with the bolt.

Therefore, it will be noted that full-line pressure can be applied to the cylinder only when bolt I I4 is fully elevated and valve 206 is closed as indicated in Fig. '7.

When the valve is disposed as illustrated in Figs 8, the interior of the cylinder will be connected via pipe 2 I 6 to the relief valve 100 and to exhaust port 2l2, thereby elfectively precluding the establishment of any pressure in the cylinder sufficient to actuate the piston.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided simple, highly effective, foolproof means for positively precluding the application of pressures in excess of those determined by pressure relief means I00 occurring within cylinder in during those periods of time when the yoke and cover are in positions other than in closed, axial alignment with the cylinder. It will be noted that the safety devices are so constructed and arranged as to positively withstand and resist their being rendered ineffective by an operator desiring to operate a stuffer without benefit of the safety attachment.

It should be understood that various modifications and changes may be made within the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid-pressure-operated stufling machine comprising a cylinder open at its top, a yoke pivoted at one end to the casing for horizontal swinging movement into and out of position diametrically across the open upper end of the cylinder, a closure for said cylinder carried by said yoke and shiftable vertically from a lowered position in closing relation to the open top of the cylinder to a raised and opened position, a piston slidable vertically in said cylinder, a pipe structure including a pipe communicating with the lower por- 6 tion of the cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure into the cylinder under the piston therein to shift the piston upwardly in a power stroke and also allow exhaust of said fluid from the cylinder under the piston during downward movement of the piston to its lowered position, a main valve controlling directional flow of fluid through the pipe structure and having an actuating handle for manual opening and closing of the valve, an auxiliary valve having an inlet communicating with the pipe structure between the main valve and its connection with the casing, a handle for said auxiliary valve, a pressure relief valve connected with the outlet of the auxiliary valve,

a collar rigid with and extending about the pivoted end. undid-yoke ma formed with a vertically'extending openingza guide carried by said cylinder, a bolt shiftable vertically through said guide and when raisedhaving an upper end engaged in the opening in. said collar and securing the yoke against swinging movement about its pivot out or a position diametrically across the cylinder, a lever pivotally mounted horizontally on said cylinder and having an end pivoted to the lower end of said bolt and shitting the bolt downwardly out or the opening in the collar and thereby allow movement of the yoke away from its position across the top or the cylinder when the lever is tilted in one direction, and a vertical link connecting the other end of the lever with the handle of the auxiliary valve and effecting tilting of the lever and downward movement of the bolt out of engagement with the collar when the handle of the auxiliary valve is moved in a direction to open the said auxiliary valve.

2. A fluid-pressure-operated stufiing machine comprising a cylinder open at its top, a yoke pivoted at one end to the casing for horizontal swinging movement into and out of position diametrically across the open upper end of the cylinder, a closure for said cylinder carried by said yoke and shifta'ble vertically into and out of position to close the upper end of the cylinder, a piston slidable vertically in said cylinder, a pipe structure including a pipe communicating with the bottom portion of the cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure into the cylinder below the piston to impart upward movement to the piston and also allow exhaust of said fluid from the cylinder during return of the piston to its lowered position, a

main valve controlling directional flow of fluid through said pipe structure, an auxiliary valve having an inlet communicating with the said pipe of the said pipe structure between the main valve 0 and its connection with the bottom portion of the cylinder, a handle for said auxiliary valve, a pressure relief valve connected with the outlet of the auxiliary valve, a collar about the pivoted end of said yoke formed with an opening, a guide carried by said cylinder below the pivoted end of said yoke, a bolt slidable vertically through the guide and when raised having an upper end engaged in the opening of said collar and thereby securing the yoke against swinging movement about its pivot out of a position diametrically across the cylinder, said auxiliary valve being located under said bolt and having a rotatable stem with which its handle is connected, and a cam carried by the stem and engaging the lower end of the bolt and shifting the bolt vertically when the stem is turned to open and close the manually operated valve.

3. A fluid-pressure-operated stuffing machine comprising a cylinder open at its top, a yoke piv- 0 oted at one end to the casing for horizontal swinging movement into and out of position diametrically across the openupper end of the cylinder, a closure for said cylinder carried by said yoke and movable vertically into and out of a closed posi- 5 tion, a piston slidable vertically in said cylinder,

a pipe structure including a pipe communicating with the bottom portion of the cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure into the cylinder under the piston to impart an upward power stroke to the piston, a main valve in said pipe structure to control flow of fluid into the cylinder and also control exhaust of said fluid from the cylinder through the pipe structure during return of the piston to its normal position, an auxiliary valve having an inlet communicating with the pipe structure between the main valve and the connec-=- tion of the pipe structure with the cylinder, a handle for said auxiliary valve, a pressure relief valve connected with the outlet of the auxiliary valve, a collar about the pivoted end of said yoke and provided with an opening, a bolt slidable vertically under said collar and when raised having its upper end engaged in the opening of said collar and thereby securing the yoke against swinging movement out of a position diametrically across the cylinder, and means movable by the auxiliary valve and engaged with the bolt for raising and lowering of the bolt during closing and opening of the said auxiliary valve.

CARL OSCAR SCHMIDT, JR.

References cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

